Airplane



J. JOHNSON Se t. 24, 1940.

AIRPLANE Filed May 11, 1939 UNITED TAT-Es PATENT oFFI-cE- v v John .lohiisTp fA fgeles, Calif.

I Application Mayll, 1939, Serial No. 273,099

3 Cla.ims.' (01. 244-47) 1 This invention relates to an airplane.

It aims to provide a novel and superior construction and especially one which may travel substantially in a straight up and down course, Jforward, backward, sideways, remain still in the air, may land on or ascend from land, water or snow, and which may come to a standstill while in the air in the event of failure of a propeller or propellers so as to descend slowly and with safety; I

Another object is to provide such. a construc-. tion wherein the cabin andpractically all parts may be constructed from metal.

It is further aimed to provide anevei propellerwhich is normally open and which is adapted to close in the event of failure to facilitate slow and safe descent.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing: 9 Figure 1 is. a view primarily in central longitudinal section through an airplane showing my improvements;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken through one ofthe plane-mounting joints;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the propellers;

Figure 4 is a substantially central vertical section through one of the propellers,'and v Figure 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the airplane has a, fuselage or cabin' as at IU, of any suitable size and shape which is preferably made of metal. Such cabin has a door I l, windows l2 and a trapdoor l3 all of which are capable of being closed airtight.

Within the cabin, a suitable motor or motors are provided. Two are shown of conventional design as at It, driving horizontal shafts l5 which are j ournaled in walls l6 serving as bearings and also in bearings 11 at their outer ends. Beveled gear wheels l8 are keyed to shafts l5 and are enmeshed with beveled gears ill, on vertical shafts which extend upwardly through tubes 2|, having bearings 22 therein for the shafts. Such tubes 2| are rigidly clamped or otherwise secured as at 23 .to the upper portions of struts or braces 24 fastened at both ends to the fuselage or cabin wall. At their lower ends, they preferably terminate and are also secured to the walls 0 IS. The cabin at the top, at opposite ends, is

preferably enlarged as shown as at 25 to accommodate thev tubes 2| and their mounting.

Said tubes 2| at theirupper ends have spherical portions 26 which are outwardly engaged by spherical portions 21 to form ball and socket 5 or substantially universal joints. Integral or rigid with the spherical portions 21 are tubes 28 having bearings 29 therein.

Bearings 29 journal shafts 30 which have universal Joint connections at 3| with the upper 10 ends of the shafts 20, centrallyof the ball and preferably reinforced by braces 36 connected to 20 their lower edges and extending at an angle downwardly therefrom and connected to a collar 31 on the shafts 20. Said blades 33 are preferably hollow as shown in Figure 5, for superior. buoyant and lifting effect. As stated, they are 5 spaced apart. The space is specifically shown or suggested at 31'. 1 I

Said spaces 31 are adapted to be automatically closed in the event the propeller. or propellers should fall, through descent of the propellers, by 30 means of flexible flaps or valves 38 which may be made of impervious canvas or any other suitable material. These flaps as at 39 are secured along one edge of each blade and they otherwise are unconnected, so that the portion in line with the spaces 31' will be free and may move into the same with their free longitudinal edges in intimate contact with the under surfaces thereof. The ball and socket or universal joints as at 26-'-2'I and 3|, enable the propellers to be dis- 40 posed at any desired angle in use, according to whether the airship is to ascend, descend or travel forwardly, rearwardly or sideways. Any suitable or conventional means may be provided to accomplish this and through connection with the socket portions 21.. As shown, four flexible draw elements 40 42 and 43 are connected to each spherical socket portion 21 as at eyelets 44 thereon. The number of these elements may be increased or diminished aspreferred. The

41 and operatively connected to a suitable wind- 5 less device 49. The elements 42 are also connected together and to a draw element 50, trained over pulleys ii and connected to a windlass 52. Finally, the draw elements 43 are connected to a draw element 53, trained over pulleys 54, and connected to a Windlass device 55. It will be understood that the Windlass devices and draw elements are merely conventionally shown.

It will be understood that the operation of the motors I4 through the gearing described, will rotate the propellers whose lifting and buoying effect will cause movement of the ship, under proper control, in all directions. A rudder may be provided, if desired. The propellers may be shifted to any desired angle through adjustment of the windlasses and in the event of failure, through descent, the flaps 38 will impinge upon the air and move to the closed positions shown in full line in Figure 5, so that descent will be slow and safe.

The blades of both propellers are at the same angle but the propellers are preferably simultaneously driven in opposite directions.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

- I claim as my invention:

1. An airship of the class described having a cabin, tubes disposed vertically therein, shafts extending through the tubes and journaled therein, means in the cabin to operate the shafts, propellers on said shafts operable in opposite directions, tubes on the propellers, ball and socket ioints between the first and second mentioned tubes, and universal joint connections within the ball and socket Joint connections between the propellers and shafts.

2. An airship of the class described having a cabin, tubes disposed vertically therein, shafts extending through the tubes and Journaled therein, means in the cabin to operate the shafts, propellers on said shafts operable in opposite directions, tubes on the propellers, ball and socket joints between the first and second mentioned tubes, universal joint connections within the ball and socket joint connections between the pro pellers and shafts, and operating means connected to the ball and socket joints extending interiorly of the cabin.

3. An airship of the class described having a cabin, tubes disposed vertically therein, shafts extending through the tubes and journaled therein, means in the cabin to operate the shafts, propellers on said shafts operable in opposite directions, tubes on the propellers, ball and socket joints between the first and second mentioned tubes, universal joint connections within the ball and socket joint connections between the propellers and shafts, operating means connected to the ball and socket joints extending interiorly of the cabin, struts within the cabin to whichthe first mentioned tubes are connected, and bearings for the first mentioned means abutted at the lower ends by the struts.

JOHN JOHNSON. 

